Bill Text: WV SB222 | 2022 | Regular Session | Introduced

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Bill Title: Relating generally to in-field master’s degree

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2022-01-12 - To Education [SB222 Detail]

Download: West_Virginia-2022-SB222-Introduced.html

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WEST VIRGINIA LEGISLATURE

2022 REGULAR SESSION

Introduced

Senate Bill 222

By Senator Rucker

[Introduced January 12, 2022; referred
to the Committee on Education; and then to the Committee on Finance]

A BILL amend and reenact §18A-4-1 and §18A-4-2 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, all relating generally to in-field master’s degree; revising definition of “M.A.”; adding definition for “in-field master’s degree”; providing that salary increase for holding an in-field master’s degree is contingent upon a classroom teacher’s assignment; requiring the state board to promulgate rules for the administration and implementation of the in-field master’s salary; specifying contents of rule; requiring the Higher Education Policy Commission to develop a plan to provide readily accessible “M.A.” classification programs at West Virginia institutions of higher education for professional educators throughout the state; requiring the commission to propose a legislative rule outlining the process for the state’s public master’s degree-granting institutions to offer a fully online, collaborative graduate program for educators providing academic coursework including pedagogy, curriculum and instructional design, and behavioral health areas of focus; and prohibiting certain classroom teachers from receiving the salary increase for any education level above A.B. plus 15 unless certain in-field master’s degree related requirements have been satisfied.

Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:

ARTICLE 4. SALARIES, WAGES, AND OTHER BENEFITS.

§18A-4-1. Definitions.

(a) For the purpose of this article: salaries shall be defined as: (a) “Basic salaries” which shall mean the salaries paid to teachers with zero years of experience and in accordance with the classification of certification and of training of said teachers; and (b) “advanced salaries” which shall mean the basic salary plus an experience increment based on the allowable years of experience of the respective teachers in accordance with the schedule established herein for the applicable classification of certification and of training of said teachers are defined as:

(1) Salaries are defined as:

(A) “Advanced salaries” means the basic salary plus an experience increment based on the allowable years of experience of the respective teachers in accordance with the schedule established herein for the applicable classification of certification and of training of said teachers; or

(B) “Basic salaries” means the salaries paid to teachers with zero years of experience and in accordance with the classification of certification and training of said teachers.

(2) “Classification of certification” means the class or type of certificate issued by the State Superintendent under the statutory provisions of this chapter.

(3) “Classification of training” means the number of collegiate or graduate hours necessary to meet the requirements stipulated in the definitions set forth in the next paragraph in items subdivisions (2) through (11), inclusive, subsection (b) of this section.

(b) The column heads of the state minimum salary schedule set forth in §18A-4-2 of this code are defined as follows:

(1) “Years of experience” means the number of years the teacher has been employed in the teaching profession, including active work in educational positions other than the public schools, and service in the armed forces of the United States if the teacher was under contract to teach at the time of induction. For a registered professional nurse employed by a county board, “years of experience” means the number of years the nurse has been employed as a public school health nurse, including active work in a nursing position related to education, and service in the armed forces if the nurse was under contract with the county board at the time of induction. For the purpose of §18A-4-2 of this code, the experience of a teacher or a nurse shall be limited to that allowed under their training classification as found in the minimum salary schedule.

(2) “Fourth class” means all certificates previously identified as:

(a) (A) “Certificates secured by examination”; and

(b) (B) “other Other first grade certificates”.

(3) “Third class” means all certificates previously identified as:

(a) (A) “Standard normal certificates”; and

(b) (B) “third Third class temporary (64 semester hours) certificates”.

(4) “Second class” means all certificates previously identified as “second class temporary certificates based upon the required 96 hours of college work”.

(5) “A.B.” means a bachelor’s degree, from an accredited institution of higher education, which has been issued to, or for which the requirements for such have been met by, a person who qualifies for or holds a professional certificate or its equivalent. A registered professional nurse with a bachelor’s degree, who is licensed by the West Virginia Board of Examiners for Registered Professional Nurses and employed by a county board, shall be within this classification for payment in accordance with §18A-4-2 and §18A-4-2a of this code.

(6) “A.B. plus 15” means a bachelor’s degree as defined above plus 15 hours of graduate work, from an accredited institution of higher education certified to do graduate work, in an approved planned program at the graduate level which requirements have been met by a person who qualifies for or holds a professional certificate or its equivalent.

(7) “M.A.” means a master’s degree, earned in an institution of higher education approved to do graduate work, which has been issued to, or the requirements for such have been met by, a person who qualifies for or holds a professional certificate or its equivalent: Provided, That effective July 1, 2023, classroom teachers receiving a master’s degree on or after that date cannot qualify for “M.A.” and may only qualify for an in-field master’s degree.

(8) “M.A. plus 15” means the above-defined master’s degree plus 15 hours of graduate work, earned in an institution of higher education approved to do graduate work, if the person is qualified for or holds a professional certificate or its equivalent.

(9) “M.A. plus 30” means the above-defined master’s degree plus 30 graduate hours, earned in an institution approved to do graduate work, if the person is qualified for or holds a professional certificate or its equivalent.

(10) “M.A. plus 45” means the above-defined master’s degree plus 45 graduate hours, earned in an institution approved to do graduate work, if the person is qualified for or holds a professional certificate or its equivalent.

(10) (11) “Doctorate” means a doctor’s degree, earned from a university qualified and approved to confer such a degree, which has been issued to or the requirements for such have been met by a person who qualifies for or holds a professional certificate or its equivalent.

(12) “In-field master’s degree” means the master’s degree as defined in this section, consisting of one of the following:

(A) Thirty credit hours of post baccalaureate graduate credit confined to the specialization completed at the undergraduate level as set forth on the classroom teacher’s professional certificate or its equivalent and in the field the teacher is teaching; or

(B) Thirty credit hours of post baccalaureate graduate credit in an area, approved by the state board, that enhances a classroom teacher’s effectiveness and ability to deliver instruction or meet daily student needs.

(c) For purposes of advanced salary classification, graduate work completed after July 1, 1994, shall be related to the public school program, as prescribed by the state board.

(d) Notwithstanding the requirements set forth in subdivisions (6), (8) and (9) (6), (7), (8), (9), and (10), subsection b of this section relating to hours of graduate work at an institution certified to do such work, 15 undergraduate credit hours from a regionally accredited institution of higher education, earned after the effective date of this section, may be utilized for advanced salary classification if such hours are in accordance with:

(a) (1) The teacher’s current classification of certification and of training;

(b) (2) A designated instructional shortage area documented by the employing county superintendent; or

(c) (3) An identified teaching deficiency documented through the state-approved county personnel evaluation system.

 Effective July 1, 1994, the following definition shall be applicable.

(11) “M.A. plus 45” means the above-defined master's degree plus forty-five graduate hours, earned in an institution approved to do graduate work, if the person is qualified for or holds a professional certificate or its equivalent

(e) Starting July 1, 2023, the salary increase for holding an in-field master’s degree is contingent upon a classroom teacher’s assignment. The state board shall promulgate rules for the administration and implementation of the in-field master’s salary as set forth in §18A-4-2(f) of this code and shall be consistent with the following:

(1) Classroom teachers holding an in-field master’s degree who are assigned to teach, for at least one half of the total classes assigned, subjects which are consistent with the teachers’ degrees are eligible for an advanced salary based pursuant to §18A-4-2(f) of this code. A teacher meeting one of the following criteria may petition the county superintendent of the county in which they teach for a salary increase notwithstanding not meeting the instruction requirements:

(A) If a school’s scheduling constraints prevent the teacher from being assigned to teach subjects consistent with the teacher’s degrees for at least one half of the total classes assigned to teach;

(B) If the teacher was teaching subjects consistent with the teacher’s degree and was voluntarily reassigned to assist the school or county in meeting a critical staffing need; or

(C) If the teacher was teaching subjects consistent with the teacher’s degree but is no longer due to a reduction in force.

(2) A county superintendent shall review all petitions submitted for a salary increase notwithstanding not meeting the instructional requirements to verify that the appropriate circumstances exist that would entitle the teacher to a salary increase under this subsection. After review, the county superintendent shall submit the petition to the State Superintendent on behalf of the teacher and verify, with the appropriate supporting justification, whether or not the salary increase is warranted notwithstanding the teacher not meeting the instructional requirements. After review, the State Superintendent shall make a final determination on whether the salary increase is to be granted. Petitions submitted pursuant to this provision are valid for the school year in which they were submitted.

(3) The requirement to hold an in-field master’s degree as a condition of receiving a salary increase for any education level above A.B. plus 15 pursuant to §18-4-2 of this code only applies to classroom teachers who receive a master’s degree on or after July 1, 2023.

(f) The Higher Education Policy Commission in consultation with the State Superintendent of Schools, by August 31, 2022 shall develop a plan to provide readily accessible “M.A.” classification programs at West Virginia institutions of higher education for professional educators throughout the state. The objective is to provide coursework enabling professional educators to achieve efficiently a qualifying “M.A.” degree classification in their teaching field or a specialized pedagogical degree designed to directly enhance the educator’s classroom and online instructional skills.  The Higher Education Policy Commission shall submit this plan to the Legislative Oversight Commission on Education Accountability. Further, the commission shall propose a legislative rule for legislative approval pursuant to §29A-3A-1 et seq. of this code by August 31, 2023, outlining the process for the state’s public, master’s degree granting institutions to offer a fully online, collaborative graduate program for educators that provides academic coursework including pedagogy, curriculum and instructional design, and behavioral health areas of focus.

§18A-4-2. State minimum salaries for teachers.

(a) It is the goal of the Legislature to increase the state minimum salary for teachers with zero years of experience and an A.B. degree, including the supplement, to at least $43,000 by fiscal year 2019.

(b) For school year 2018–2019, and continuing thereafter, each teacher shall receive the amount prescribed in the State Minimum Salary Schedule I as set forth in this section; specific additional amounts prescribed in this section or article; and any county supplement in effect in a county pursuant to §18A-4-5a of this code during the contract year: Provided, That for the school year 2019-2020, and continuing thereafter, each teacher shall receive the amount prescribed in the State Minimum Salary Schedule II I as set forth in this section, subject to subsection (f) of this section, specific additional amounts prescribed in this section or article, and any county supplement in effect in a county pursuant to §18A-4-5a of this code during the contract year.

STATE MINIMUM SALARY SCHEDULE I

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Years

Exp

4^th

Class

3^rd

Class

2^nd

Class

A.B.

A.B.

+ 15

M.A.

M.A.

+ 15

M.A.

+ 30

M.A.

+ 45

Doc-

torate

 

0	29,937	30,626	30,892	32,335	33,096	34,863	35,624	36,385	37,146	38,181
1	30,265	30,954	31,220	32,853	33,614	35,382	36,143	36,903	37,664	38,699
2	30,594	31,282	31,548	33,372	34,133	35,900	36,661	37,422	38,183	39,218
3	30,922	31,610	31,876	33,891	34,651	36,419	37,180	37,940	38,701	39,736
4	31,494	32,182	32,448	34,653	35,414	37,182	37,943	38,703	39,464	40,499
5	31,822	32,510	32,776	35,172	35,933	37,700	38,461	39,222	39,983	41,018
6	32,150	32,838	33,104	35,690	36,451	38,219	38,980	39,740	40,501	41,536
7	32,478	33,167	33,432	36,209	36,970	38,737	39,498	40,259	41,020	42,055
8	32,806	33,495	33,761	36,727	37,488	39,256	40,017	40,777	41,538	42,573
9	33,134	33,823	34,089	37,246	38,007	39,774	40,535	41,296	42,057	43,092
10	33,463	34,151	34,417	37,766	38,526	40,294	41,055	41,816	42,576	43,611
11	33,791	34,479	34,745	38,284	39,045	40,813	41,573	42,334	43,095	44,130
12	34,119	34,807	35,073	38,803	39,563	41,331	42,092	42,853	43,613	44,648
13	34,447	35,135	35,401	39,321	40,082	41,850	42,610	43,371	44,132	45,167
14	34,775	35,463	35,729	39,840	40,600	42,368	43,129	43,890	44,650	45,685
15	35,103	35,791	36,057	40,358	41,119	42,887	43,647	44,408	45,169	46,204
16	35,431	36,119	36,385	40,877	41,637	43,405	44,166	44,927	45,687	46,722
17	35,759	36,448	36,713	41,395	42,156	43,924	44,685	45,445	46,206	47,241
18	36,087	36,776	37,042	41,914	42,675	44,442	45,203	45,964	46,725	47,760
19	36,415	37,104	37,370	42,432	43,193	44,961	45,722	46,482	47,243	48,278
20	36,743	37,432	37,698	42,951	43,712	45,479	46,240	47,001	47,762	48,797
21	37,072	37,760	38,026	43,469	44,230	45,998	46,759	47,519	48,280	49,315
22	37,400	38,088	38,354	43,988	44,749	46,516	47,277	48,038	48,799	49,834
23	37,728	38,416	38,682	44,507	45,267	47,035	47,796	48,556	49,317	50,352
24	38,056	38,744	39,010	45,025	45,786	47,554	48,314	49,075	49,836	50,871
25	38,384	39,072	39,338	45,544	46,304	48,072	48,833	49,594	50,354	51,389
26	38,712	39,400	39,666	46,062	46,823	48,591	49,351	50,112	50,873	51,908
27	39,040	39,728	39,994	46,581	47,341	49,109	49,870	50,631	51,391	52,426
28	39,368	40,057	40,322	47,099	47,860	49,628	50,388	51,149	51,910	52,945
29	39,696	40,385	40,651	47,618	48,378	50,146	50,907	51,668	52,428	53,463
30	40,024	40,713	40,979	48,136	48,897	50,665	51,425	52,186	52,947	53,982
31	40,353	41,041	41,307	48,655	49,416	51,183	51,944	52,705	53,465	54,500
32	40,681	41,369	41,635	49,173	49,934	51,702	52,463	53,223	53,984	55,019
33	41,009	41,697	41,963	49,692	50,453	52,220	52,981	53,742	54,503	55,538
34	41,337	42,025	42,291	50,210	50,971	52,739	53,500	54,260	55,021	56,056
35	41,665	42,353	42,619	50,729	51,490	53,257	54,018	54,779	55,540	56,575

 

 

 

STATE MINIMUM SALARY SCHEDULE II

Years

Exp.

4^th

Class

3^rd

Class

2^nd

Class

A.B.

 

A.B.

+15

M.A.

 

M.A.

+15

M.A.

+30

M.A.

+45

Doc-torate

0

32,057

32,746

33,012

34,455

35,216

36,983

37,744

38,505

39,266

40,301

1

32,385

33,074

33,340

34,973

35,734

37,502

38,263

39,023

39,784

40,819

2

32,714

33,402

33,668

35,492

36,253

38,020

38,781

39,542

40,303

41,338

3

33,042

33,730

33,996

36,011

36,771

38,539

39,300

40,060

40,821

41,856

4

33,614

34,302

34,568

36,773

37,534

39,302

40,063

40,823

41,584

42,619

5

33,942

34,630

34,896

37,292

38,053

39,820

40,581

41,342

42,103

43,138

6

34,270

34,958

35,224

37,810

38,571

40,339

41,100

41,860

42,621

43,656

7

34,598

35,287

35,552

38,329

39,090

40,857

41,618

42,379

43,140

44,175

8

34,926

35,615

35,881

38,847

39,608

41,376

42,137

42,897

43,658

44,693

9

35,254

35,943

36,209

39,366

40,127

41,894

42,655

43,416

44,177

45,212

10

35,583

36,271

36,537

39,886

40,646

42,414

43,175

43,936

44,696

45,731

11

35,911

36,599

36,865

40,404

41,165

42,933

43,693

44,454

45,215

46,250

12

36,239

36,927

37,193

40,923

41,683

43,451

44,212

44,973

45,733

46,768

13

36,567

37,255

37,521

41,441

42,202

43,970

44,730

45,491

46,252

47,287

14

36,895

37,583

37,849

41,960

42,720

44,488

45,249

46,010

46,770

47,805

15

37,223

37,911

38,177

42,478

43,239

45,007

45,767

46,528

47,289

48,324

16

37,551

38,239

38,505

42,997

43,757

45,525

46,286

47,047

47,807

48,842

17

37,879

38,568

38,833

43,515

44,276

46,044

46,805

47,565

48,326

49,361

18

38,207

38,896

39,162

44,034

44,795

46,562

47,323

48,084

48,845

49,880

19

38,535

39,224

39,490

44,552

45,313

47,081

47,842

48,602

49,363

50,398

20

38,863

39,552

39,818

45,071

45,832

47,599

48,360

49,121

49,882

50,917

21

39,192

39,880

40,146

45,589

46,350

48,118

48,879

49,639

50,400

51,435

22

39,520

40,208

40,474

46,108

46,869

48,636

49,397

50,158

50,919

51,954

23

39,848

40,536

40,802

46,627

47,387

49,155

49,916

50,676

51,437

52,472

24

40,176

40,864

41,130

47,145

47,906

49,674

50,434

51,195

51,956

52,991

25

40,504

41,192

41,458

47,664

48,424

50,192

50,953

51,714

52,474

53,509

26

40,832

41,520

41,786

48,182

48,943

50,711

51,471

52,232

52,993

54,028

27

41,160

41,848

42,114

48,701

49,461

51,229

51,990

52,751

53,511

54,546

28

41,488

42,177

42,442

49,219

49,980

51,748

52,508

53,269

54,030

55,065

29

41,816

42,505

42,771

49,738

50,498

52,266

53,027

53,788

54,548

55,583

30

42,144

42,833

43,099

50,256

51,017

52,785

53,545

54,306

55,067

56,102

31

42,473

43,161

43,427

50,775

51,536

53,303

54,064

54,825

55,585

56,620

32

42,801

43,489

43,755

51,293

52,054

53,822

54,583

55,343

56,104

57,139

33

43,129

43,817

44,083

51,812

52,573

54,340

55,101

55,862

56,623

57,658

34

43,457

44,145

44,411

52,330

53,091

54,859

55,620

56,380

57,141

58,176

35

43,785

44,473

44,739

52,849

53,610

55,377

56,138

56,899

57,660

58,695

 

(c) Six hundred dollars shall be paid annually to each classroom teacher who has at least 20 years of teaching experience. The payments: (i) Shall be in addition to any amounts prescribed in the applicable State Minimum Salary Schedule; (ii) shall be paid in equal monthly installments; and (iii) shall be considered a part of the state minimum salaries for teachers.

(d) Effective July 1, 2019, each classroom teacher providing math instruction in the teacher’s certified area of study for at least 60 percent of the time the teacher is providing instruction to students shall be considered to have three additional years of experience only for the purposes of the salary schedule set forth in subsection (b) of this section: Provided, That for any classroom teacher who satisfies these requirements and whose years of experience plus the three additional years due to them exceeds the years of experience provided for on the salary schedule shall be paid the additional amount equivalent to three additional years of experience notwithstanding the maximum experience provided on the salary schedule.

(e) Effective July 1, 2019, each classroom teacher certified in special education and employed as a full-time special education teacher, as defined by the State Superintendent, shall be considered to have three additional years of experience only for the purposes of the salary schedule set forth in subsection (b) of this section: Provided, That for any classroom teacher who satisfies these requirements and whose years of experience plus the three additional years due to them exceeds the years of experience provided for on the salary schedule shall be paid the additional amount equivalent to three additional years of experience notwithstanding the maximum experience provided on the salary schedule.

(f) Notwithstanding any other provision of this section to the contrary, starting July 1, 2023, no classroom teacher receiving a master’s degree on or after that date may receive the salary increase for any education level above A.B. plus 15 unless the requirements for an in-field master’s degree as outlined in §18A-4-1 of this code have been satisfied.

(f) (g) In accordance with §18A-4-5 of this code, each teacher shall be paid the supplement amount as applicable for his or her classification of certification or classification of training and years of experience as follows, subject to the provisions of that section:

(1) For “4th Class” at zero years of experience, $1,781. An additional $38 shall be paid for each year of experience up to and including 35 years of experience;

(2) For “3rd Class” at zero years of experience, $1,796. An additional $67 shall be paid for each year of experience up to and including 35 years of experience;

(3) For “2nd Class” at zero years of experience, $1,877. An additional $69 shall be paid for each year of experience up to and including 35 years of experience;

(4) For “A.B.” at zero years of experience, $2,360. An additional $69 shall be paid for each year of experience up to and including 35 years of experience;

(5) For “A.B. + 15” at zero years of experience, $2,452. An additional $69 shall be paid for each year of experience up to and including 35 years of experience;

(6) For “M.A.” at zero years of experience, $2,644. An additional $69 shall be paid for each year of experience up to and including 35 years of experience;

(7) For “M.A. + 15” at zero years of experience, $2,740. An additional $69 shall be paid for each year of experience up to and including 35 years of experience;

(8) For “M.A. + 30” at zero years of experience, $2,836. An additional $69 shall be paid for each year of experience up to and including 35 years of experience;

(9) For “M.A. + 45” at zero years of experience, $2,836. An additional $69 shall be paid for each year of experience up to and including 35 years of experience; and

(10) For “Doctorate” at zero years of experience, $2,927. An additional $69 shall be paid for each year of experience up to and including 35 years of experience.

These payments: (i) Shall be in addition to any amounts prescribed in the applicable State Minimum Salary Schedule, any specific additional amounts prescribed in this section and article and any county supplement in effect in a county pursuant to §18A-4-5a of this code; (ii) shall be paid in equal monthly installments; and (iii) shall be considered a part of the state minimum salaries for teachers.

 

NOTE: The purpose of this bill is to add a definition for “in-field master’s degree”; revise the definition of “M.A.”; and provide salary increase for holding an in-field master’s degree.

Strike-throughs indicate language that would be stricken from a heading or the present law and underscoring indicates new language that would be added.